I still have a few of my little watercolor simple sketches available for $10 each, including postage (US). Thanks to all of you who bought one! shoe and little girl’s dress sold, thanks!
Today, we go back to Kansas, and it will feel good to get home. Its been a great week, but you know the famous line about Kansas— "THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME".
When I get there, I’ll have a morning to unpack, clean up, stock up the fridge, tend to the flowers, and get ready for guests! Family is coming for a couple days and I will be feeding about 20 people tomorrow night.
As soon as family house guests leave, I need to get ready for my childhood friends to arrive for 5 days of non-stop birthday celebrating. We all turned 50 this year, although I don’t think Sandy will admit to it. So, please forgive me, if I don’t answer emails and comments, I will be happily swamped for a while!
This has been a wonderful, pampering week! Beautiful country clubs to visit, and great food, as well as getting to see blog friends and shop.
This is the view from Treesdale country club’s deck, where my husband took me for our 23rd anniversary celebration. 
The dinner was prepared by a former White House Chef, Walter Scheib, who has a book out now about his time serving the Clintons and Bushes. I bought an autographed copy of the book, can’t wait to get time to sit and read it!
He told the BEST stories.
And he made the BEST food!
That guy was a charmer. Cute as can be and funny too.
Chef Walter had a story about each dish and the White House family member who inspired it.
My favorite was Chelsea Clinton’s sweet potato soup. Hilary had asked him to teach Chelsea how to cook before she went away to college so she wouldn’t eat in restaurants all the time and this is a recipe that they worked on together.
This specialty ice cream had a hint of honey and fresh lavender in it. Maybe it was even better than the soup….
There are plenty of reasons right here at this table for me to not be able to zip that dress in the last post!
We ate at Treesdale another night too, and I had Chilean Sea Bass with a truffle infusion. With Key Lime Pie for dessert. I’ve had dessert every night this week, including TWICE on Sunday when Heather served cheesecake for lunch, then I had apple pie after dinner that night.
It will be a huge change for me to go from being fed gourmet meals to cooking for 20 tomorrow night!
And I don’t think I ever want to break this dessert habit that I have gotten into!
The shopping habit and the dessert habit really should be put to an end.
But how could I resist going to Lucketts while I was in Virginia?
Eventually, I am going to have to get out and explore some other towns, I always head straight to Leesburg when I am in the area. Next time I come to our apartment outside of DC, I should try to visit somewhere else.
I was pretty proud of myself for resisting these cute crowns. They were only $12 each, but I thought I had spent enough.
Sightseeing without even buying much is fun at a place like Lucketts.
I’m doing a delayed post for this, writing it Wednesday morning before we head back to home, so it should post on Thursday while I am preparing for guests.
I will be away from the computer for a bit, busily entertaining, snuggling up to Sugarwings, and having a good time, but will pop back in to announce the Christmas in July and the regular August giveaway.
I know all about the dessert passion! Yummy.
You have a wonderful blog. I’m adding it to my blog list, so I can come back and visit.
Congratulations on your wedding anniversary!
Elizabeth
aahh what a glorious trip.
love all the photos!!
so many beautiful things.
oxoxo,
jessi
I feel like I was there. Love your blog!
Penny
It looks like you had a great time. I’m loving the book you are doing for Sugarwings. Maybe you should publish???
Thanks for the pics. I enjoyed, as always.
Debbie
FABULOUS Karla!!! That food looks so good! This really makes me even more excited to go to Chicago Monday!!!! YAY! Those shops are fabulous! I love those crowns too!!
Sugarwings book is awesome! I cannot wait to see it finished!!!
Love ya,
Amy
This is such a delightful post. I certainly enjoyed it. The food looks delicious – very special. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Those crowns were darling…Happy Anniversary enjoy Sugarwings! Hugs Grace
That’s an impressive menu! How cool to be able to say you were served by the President’s chef.
Happy anniversary, sweet chick! We celebrate our 50th in 3 years and I am sooooo looking forward to it! I know, I know, I’m old but I’m the liveliest OLD CHICK you’ll ever see, my sweet chickadees!! Maybe I can get hubs to take me on a cruise!!!!!!! Ya think….
Smoochies,
Connie
No need to respond…just wanted to tell you that your book you are creating for Sugarwings is absolutely priceless.
~Lolly
Sounds like you had wonderful food on your trip! I love the picture you made of sugarwings teapart, very sweet! Welcome back to Kansas, we missed you while you were gone!! Have fun with your family and friends
i missed out on cheesecake too? oh, now i’m REALLY mad…i LOVE cheesecake…LOL…your dinners at the country club sound so yummy and they look just delicious!!!
i need to get to virginia one day, that shop looks so delightful!!!
All that food talk is making me hungry. What great menus and stories. You never cease to amaze me with all you do and your amount of energy. Enjoy your company.
Jean in Virginia
Oh, it just looks like so much fun!
That book for Sugar wings is going to be so amazing!
Happy times, husband, family and friends, nice:) Eat Cake!!! Rachael
OK Next time I’m with ya! We can plug in addresses into the little Garvin guy and see where the road takes us!
I love that ceiling treatment in that room at Lucketts….my daughter and I examined it really close to try and replicate it…but I can just see the cobwebs hanging from that thing! We decided against it! Those crowns are too cute…and that food…oh my YUM! I would not have beena ble to resist! Enjoy your visitors and your birthday pals!
Hey all is fair in love and food, I always say. And on vacation I think we should eat what ever we want, right Ladies…. And wow what food you had to eat, and a former White House Chef, I am sooooo jealous. Not really. Sounds like you are going to be a busy bee this week. Hope you have some great times.
Hugs;
Alaura
Karla do you have ruby slippers? lol
You listened to my advice and did eat two desserts. Good for you. What are you cooking for your guests? Make some yummy soups in the crockpot and get different kinds of sandwich stuff. Buy desserts.
Enjoy you family and friends and get plenty of Sugarwings “sugar”.
Oh goodness! I can’t imagine feeding that many people! I have a small family, and we rarely see one another except when I travel there. I don’t know how you women do all this. Blows my mind!
Brenda
Wow! You had a WONDERFUL trip!
~elaine~
Wow , you sure looked like you had a wonderful time . I am sure you burn off enough energy with all you do thast you can enjoy your desserts. Donna
Sweet Karla, my work is nursing in long term care and hospice…1st and foremost rule: LIFE IS SHORT. EAT DESSERT FIRST!
Not original, but, oh! so true!
Sugarwing’s book rocks!
I love Sugar Wings’ birthday book. You’re such a good Fairy Grandmother!!
I’d eat all that yummy-looking food too. Who needs to wear a prom dress anyway?
Jody
What a great trip! I hope your time with family and friends is refreshing and fun.
Lorrie
Have a wonderful time with your family and friends. And, get lots of Sugarwing snuggles.
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing the photos……..but I know that feeling when you arrive home….it’s the best! Happy Friday!
~Allie
yum!!!!! and happy anniversary!!!
hugz